CONSUMERS POWER COMPANY FILES INNOVATIVE ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION
SERVICE

PROPOSAL WITH FERC
JACKSON, Mich., Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Power Company yesterday (Wednesday, Nov. )? filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) an additional electric "open access" interconnection service that will enhance an existing transmission program to make Consumers Power's electric transmission system among the most accessible in the nation.
Under the filing, independent power producers, municipalities, cooperatives and other utilities would be able to sell their power to Consumers Power for resale to electric utilities interconnected with Consumers Power. Since 1979, Consumers Power has had a FERC-approved "open access" transmission tariff under which it has offered to transport power for other electric utilities. The proposed new service would enhance this existing program by expanding the options of Michigan power sellers and buyers other than Consumers Power through:
-- Opening up short-term power sales markets to independent power producers and other utilities by giving them a framework within which to arrange short-term transactions;
-- Expanding utilities' and independent power producers' access to electric transmission service and provision of more marketing options for their capacity;
-- Allowing independent power producers and utilities to utilize their electric generating capacity more efficiently.
Consumers Power will collect FERC-approved, cost-based transmission rates for the new service.
"This filing makes it clear that Consumers Power is eager to increase its wholesale electric services," said William T. McCormick Jr. chairman and chief executive officer. "This filing demonstrates Consumers Power's continuing commitment to open access by municipal and cooperative utilities, independent power producers and other electric utilities," McCormick added.
"Finally, we hope that this filing will put to rest the unfounded claims by some that Consumers Power does not provide an 'open access' system," McCormick said.
The filing asks FERC to make the open access interconnection schedule effective sixty days from yesterday. The "open access" service schedule would be available on a non-discriminatory basis to electric utilities including municipals and cooperatives. Comparable service will be available to qualifying facilities under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act.
Consumers Power Company, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE: CMS), is Michigan's largest utility serving almost 6 million of the state's 9 million residents in 67 of the 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
-0- 11/21/91
/CONTACT: Charles E. MacInnis of Consumers Power Co., 517-788-0333/
(CMS) CO: Consumers Power Company; CMS Energy Corporation ST: Michigan IN: UTI SU: ML -- DE002 -- 5706 11/21/91 08:18 EST

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